FCC DTV Consumer Education Order Approved 5-0
Commissioners unanimously approved a long-awaited digital TV consumer education order (CD Feb 19 p1) to require broadcasters run public service announcements on the transition and pay-TV companies to include information on the switch over in monthly bills, said three agency officials. Although the order was approved 5-0, it’s unclear when the document will be released. It includes several last-minute changes favored by broadcasters and pay-TV companies, said the officials. An FCC spokeswoman declined to comment. The order was circulated in October by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.
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The final order includes a crucial clarification for cable operators, satellite-TV providers and others. It says multichannel video programming distributors need not include bill stuffers on the transition to meet the order’s requirements, said agency officials. MVPDs can meet its mandate to inform customers of the transition by including information about DTV in bills, they said. That may save MVPDs the expense of having to print up and mail bill inserts.
Commercial stations can fulfill FCC education requirements if they follow a plan proposed by the NAB for a safe harbor, said agency officials. Noncommercial stations could comply by following a plan from the Association of Public TV Stations, they said. Both plans include public service announcements. Officials from both groups declined to comment.